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Tag: Wike

  • Wike: Rivers Golden Jubilee anniversary to unite residents

    Wike: Rivers Golden Jubilee anniversary to unite residents

    Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike has unveiled the Golden Jubilee logo for the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the creation of the state.

    The governor said his administration would execute a number of landmark projects throughout the year to mark the anniversary, advance the promise of economic independence and enduring peace, unity and prosperity for the residents.

    He noted that the creation of the state marked the liberation of Rivers residents from oppression and domination.

    Wike spoke yesterday in Port Harcourt, the state capital, at an event attended by political, traditional, women, youth and business leaders.

    The governor said the Golden Jubilee celebration had a special and historic significance to the people and their journey to greatness.

    He said: “Before its creation, our people, including our brothers from Bayelsa State, existed as second class citizens in their country. They were oppressed, exploited, dehumanised and denied even the most basic opportunities of life.

    “Every Rivers person was, therefore, relieved when (the then Head of State) General Yakubu Gowon, on May 27, 1967, dismantled the regional geo-political fortresses of majority domination and pronounced the creation of Rivers State. It unchained and restored our rights to preside over our affairs and pursue our developmental aspirations within a united Nigeria.”

    Wike recalled that in the last 50 years, Rivers State made significant achievements in various fields.

    The governor said the Golden Jubilee celebration inspired a new direction to build a prosperous state that the residents could be proud of.

    He said: “It is in this spirit that we have initiated the celebration of the Golden Jubilee of our creation and existence as a state to express our joy and thank God for boundless blessings upon us as a people. We want our people to use this occasion of our Golden Jubilee to unite and together reflect on the tortuous and eventful journey and project into the future with hope and determination.”

    According to him, although the state government is leading the celebrations, the milestone belongs to Rivers residents.

    Wike urged corporate organisations and individuals to partner his administration for the Golden Jubilee Committee to make the celebration a success.

    Alternate Chairman of the Golden Jubilee Committee, Chief Onueze Okocha said Rivers residents would celebrate the anniversary in a big way.

    He said of the 12 states created in 1967, Rivers and another were the two still standing.

    Chairman of the Golden Jubilee Committee, Chief Ferdinand Alabrabra said residents were eager to celebrate anniversary.

    He said January was appropriate to educate the people about the celebrations, ahead of its climax in May.

    Archbishop Ignatius Kattey blessed the logo; Mrs I. B. Osuamkpe did a solo rendition of a song, while 50 youths and the Glorious Elders Choir performed at the event.

  • Wike: six dismissed policemen prevented my assassination

    Wike: six dismissed policemen prevented my assassination

    Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike has alleged that the police high command dismissed six policemen attached to him because they refused to allow the alleged attempt by security agencies to assassinate him.
    Wike spoke yesterday when he hosted the Aluu Council of Chiefs at the Government House in Port Harcourt, the state capital.
    The governor said there was a detailed plan by security agencies to assassinate him, adding that his security detail resisted execution of the plot.
    He said: “The policemen were dismissed because they did not allow the security agencies to assassinate me, as was planned.
    “The security agencies planned to assassinate me, but those attached to me resisted the plot and refused to allow them to kill me. That is why they are angry and desperate.”
    The governor pledged to always defend the interest of the state, adding that he will not ask the security agencies to stop their “illegal activities”.
    He said the alleged invasion of the state by security agencies during the last rerun was a wake-up call for the residents to prepare for election rigging in 2019 by the same security agencies.
    Wike said: “The security agencies, by their actions on December 10, 2016 rerun, alerted us to how they plan to rig the 2019 elections. We are now prepared for them.”
    The governor hailed Aluu community for cooperating with his administration to tackle cultism.
    He noted that the peace in the area led to improved execution of projects.
    Wike said his administration would continue to develop various communities in line with his pledge to the people.
    The Chairman of the Aluu Council of Chiefs, Chief Ken Nwabunwo, praised Wike for the state burial he gave their son, Capt. Elechi Amadi.
    They hailed him for renaming the former Port Harcourt Polytechnic after the late Amadi and for repairing the major road to the area.

  • Amosun, Aregbesola, Wike hail military on defeat of insurgents

    Governors Ibikunle Amosun (Ogun), Rauf Aregbesola (Osun) and Nyesom Wike (Rivers) have hailed President Muhammadu Buhari as well as officers and men of the Armed Forces for their gallantry and success in the fight against the Boko Haram insurgency.

    Amosun gave his commendation while speaking after inspecting a special parade by the Nigerian Legion, Navy and Army at the 2017 Armed Forces Remembrance Day celebration at the Arcade Ground, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta, yesterday.

    Thanking the military for restoring peace in the Northeast, Amosun urged Nigerians to live in unity, irrespective of differences in gender, tribe, religion and political affiliations.

    The governor, top officers in the military and paramount rulers laid wreaths at the cenotaph in honour of fallen heroes.

    The governor also released 57 white pigeons as a symbol of national peace, with each pigeon representing the 20 local governments and 37 local council development areas.

    The fallen heroes were later honoured with a 21-gun salute.

    Aregbesola hailed Buhari, ýthe Nigeria Armed forces and other security organisations for subduing the activities of Boko Haram group in the Northeast.

    The governor spoke at the grand finale of the 2017 Armed Forces Remembrance Day celebration, at the Military Cenotaph, Osogbo.

    Aregbesola lauded security agencies for destroying the Sambisa Forest base of the group.

    According to him, the nation would not forget the gallant soldiers and security officials, whose lives have been lost in the cause of putting down the Boko Haram uprising.

    He also commiserated with the government and people of Borno, Yobe, Adamawa, Gombe, Bauchi, Taraba and others caught in the throes of the group, whose people have been brutalised, killed or kidnapped and many now in Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camps.

    Aregbesola added that the annual remembrance of fallen heroes and survivors of the Nigeria Army would be incomplete, if the country failed to retrace its past and device popular means of living in unity.

    In Port Harcourt, Wike noted that the President and service chiefs deserved commendation for strengthening the armed forces to take up on the elements, who had been threatening the country’s peace.

    At the event, Wike announced a N100 million empowerment scheme aimed at improving the living condition of the families of deceased ex-servicemen and legionnaires.

  • Wike shuns lessons of history

    Wike shuns lessons of history

    GOVERNOR Nyesom Wike of Rivers State may be the perfect counterpoise to the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State, especially given his readiness to match the opposition in his state word for word, insult for insult and shove for push, but it is doubtful whether he has the capacity to learn the lessons of history. During the commissioning of the Ozuoba-Rumuoparaeli-Choba road in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of the state last week, an elated and excited Mr Wike mocked and threatened the APC, a party he announced gleefully had been dislodged from the state. It is not quite obvious why he came to that conclusion, or whether he was just trying to intimidate the opposition, but he doubtless had something up his sleeve.

    Hear him: “There is no more APC in Rivers State, we have used projects to dislodge the party in the state. If they don’t steer clear of Rivers State, we shall cut them off from the state now that our people have given us the mandate to clear all the unwanted items…All those that know, must not come close because my people have given me the instrument to go to war against enemies of Rivers State.” Nothing can be more incendiary and unwise. Mr Wike and his Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have won the election in a democracy where many political parties contested for seats in the legislature and the governorship. What more does he want for himself and party after winning in both?

    While it is true that the opposition has been less than graceful and conciliatory in defeat, it is also clear that the PDP in the state, given the explosive rhetoric of Mr Wike, has been less than magnanimous in victory. It is true, too, that the APC seems to be confused about what democracy is all about, and its officials have often spoken and acted as if they run or prefer a dictatorship, but it is no excuse for Mr Wike to embrace the despicable behaviour of a gangster. He is already governor; he should live up to that name and, in particular, that office. As governor, his election has transformed him from a PDP candidate into a political leader and statesman responsible for everyone in his state, whether they belong to the PDP, APC or any other party. This point is lost to the APC, despite this column’s many admonitions. Hopefully, this column’s unsolicited advice can still be sufficient to salvage the PDP and Mr Wike, despite their natural longing for the fiery rhetoric of the cesspit, from the malignant hatred they seem compelled to nurse against others.

    However, the outlook for Rivers State is not too encouraging and not too promising. The two leading parties have ossified dangerously along antagonistic fault lines since the April 2015 elections that saw Mr Wike winning the governorship seat by more than 80 percent of the votes. The aborted July 2016 rerun legislative poll hardened this antagonism. By December 2016, when the rerun poll was finally held, the bitterness between the two parties had reached fever pitch. That bitterness is hardening, and no one, whether at the federal or state level, is making any effort to reconcile the parties or at least lesson the rancour that has bitterly divided the entire state. The APC, which won the national polls handily and should have taken the initiative to engender amicability between competing parties, given the change ethos it has tried to market, has instead promoted disunity. The PDP, feeling besieged, has responded acrimoniously in kind.

    An indication that no one appears interested in reconciling the state was given by APC leaders during their final campaign rally for the December rerun. The APC national chairman, Odigie Oyegun, had shocked the public when he declared at the rally: “As you can see, we came in full force; the whole federal might is here. We have the governors here today. Our senators and other members of the National Assembly are here today. Our women leaders are here today to pass one message…The message is simple: enough is enough, enough is enough. This is the beginning of the rescue mission in Rivers State…We now have a blood-thirsty regime in Rivers State. I am glad with what I am hearing: if they push you, push them. If they snatch a result sheet, snatch it back.”

    On his own, the former governor of the state, Mr Amaechi, also thundered at the same rally: “This is the election of our lives. Before, I used to tell you, please, don’t fight. What I will tell you today is do not kill anybody, but do not get killed. My friend in the army says if you hear the sound of a gun, it is not meant for you. The implication therefore is that if you allow them to shoot, you will die. It is not only them that have the right to life, you also have a right to life. I don’t want to hear that they shot me and took away result sheets. If they take result sheets from you, collect it back from them. You know I have never said anything like this before.” Many other APC leaders made very indiscrete and provocative statements at the rally, with one of them even advocating for strong-arm and probably sanguinary tactics against the PDP. With the APC appearing to repudiate national and ethical leadership, it surprised only a few that the PDP, especially Mr Wike whose natural instinct for rough tactics is legendary, also favoured acerbic language and loutish tactics.

    The clear indication today is that the PDP has a firm grip of Rivers State. Irrespective of their language and tactics, and regardless of how revolting they may seem, that hold will be reinforced in the months to come. Indeed, by 2019, when another general elections will hold, the ascendancy of the PDP in Rivers will be unquestionable. One of the reasons for this incongruousness is that Mr Wike has been more astute in exploiting the follies and foibles of the APC. He has enjoyed painting the PDP in Rivers as the underdog needing sympathy. Rather than neutralise this feeling, the APC in Abuja has continued to harass and intimidate Mr Wike and the PDP, and not just the governor and his party in Rivers, but political parties and critics elsewhere. By failing to help develop a new ethos for politicking in Nigeria, the APC has left a vacuum that many, like the equally vacuous Mr Wike, are filling with all sorts of flotsam and jetsam. The APC has won precious little in Rivers, despite their federal might and tough words, but they are unable to learn any lessons from their serial failure.

    Nor has Mr Wike himself learnt any lesson from history. He gives the disquieting impression he knows very little about democracy, about the value of opposition and the intelligent framework within which pluralism, tolerance and fairness thrive. Mr Wike may be an effective grassroots politician who knows a thing or two about corralling votes, but he does not seem to know much else, especially the social ethos that allows a biodiversity of people and politicians to function optimally. It is incredible that he thinks the mere commissioning of projects, no matter how beautiful and gargantuan, could form the basis for the extermination of the opposition. He even proceeds from wishing the death of the opposition in Rivers to serving them the fiery notice of a governor on war-footing. In his view — even if he suspects that science disproves his proposition — politics is war, and he is prepared to cut off the opposition.

    Both parties bear responsibility for the tension and palpable distress reigning in Rivers. With 2019 a stone’s throw away, they must come together to wisely lessen the tension in the state by talking responsibly and promoting the right atmosphere for decent people to play decent politics. The APC has neither deployed nor used ‘federal might’ with the restraint befitting of the change mantra its leaders have tried unsuccessfully to foist on the nation. The party bears the huger responsibility to kick-start the new ethos and new politics that would make the electorate imbibe the hope and confidence needed for the next general elections. Should the present atmosphere continue up to 2019, the nation would be inviting a catastrophe. If the APC sets the pace, and the PDP is either slothful or reluctant to follow suit, no one would be in doubt where the fault lies. What is not tenable is for neither party to do nothing, particularly and hopefully after understanding the peril of sustaining and nurturing today’s convulsive and consuming politics.

  • We stand by you, Jonathan’s ministers tell Wike

    We stand by you, Jonathan’s ministers tell Wike

    Some former ministers in the administration ex-President Goodluck Jonathan have declared their support for Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, in his face-off with the state’s chapter of the All Progressives Congress ( APC).

    Consequently, they have asked the  governor to stand firm in defence  of  democracy.

    This is as Governor Wike himself expressed his resolve to remain focused to defend democracy and the interest of Rivers people.

    In a solidarity  visit to Governor Wike  at the Government House, Port Harcourt  on  Thursday  night, representatives of the Forum of Former Ministers  lauded Governor  Wike  for  being a pillar of democracy  and providing the right leadership  for Rivers people.

    The representatives  of the forum at the solidarity meeting include former Minister of Foreign Affairs and former Jigawa State governor, Dr Sule Lamido; former Minister of Education and former Kano State governor, Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau; former Minister of Youth Development and former Adamawa State governor, Mr Boni Haruna; former Minister of Interior, Comrade Abba Moro; Former Minister of Women Affairs, Iyom Josephine Anenih; Former Minister of State for Defence, Erelu Olusola Obada and Ambassador  Musa Kazaure, also a former minister.

    The Chairman  of the  Forum of Former Ministers, Dr Sule Lamido,  stated that the solidarity visit to Governor Wike  was aimed at encouraging him to remain steadfast  and focused in his promotion  of  the  tenets of democracy.

    He said: “We are with you in your  travails. We support  you all the way. We know that you are under siege  by anti-democratic forces.

    “No matter  the tyranny of the oppressor, the voice of the people must be heard. That was the case of Rivers State  during the Rivers rerun elections. “

    Lamido  regretted that every day, Nigerians  are being divided by the APC -led federal government, which he said has no respect for the principles of democracy.

    The Forum of Former Ministers urged  PDP Governors to provide a canopy  for the revival of the PDP.

    He said: “Nigerians are looking on to the PDP for salvation and emancipation from the APC.  Our governors must stand together to be our rallying  point.”

    In his response, Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike, declared that for Rivers people, they have resolved to remain with the PDP.

    He said: “We will continue  to  stand firm and defend democracy. For us, we have  made  up our mind.  Our family  is PDP.

    “We  are prepared  to  pay the price.  We are determined to work  for the  PDP  at all times.”

    The governor said  that the crisis in the party will soon be resolved  in the interest of the country.

    He explained  that the state has had her rerun elections and learnt  the required  lessons, which he said would guide it in the future.

    Governor Wike said: “Don’t  have  sleepless nights. The PDP  will remain  strong in Rivers State.  We will continue  the struggle  against anti-people  forces and we shall  continue to win.”

  • Arrest of 21 INEC ad hoc staff: Wike, PDP at war with APC

    Arrest of 21 INEC ad hoc staff: Wike, PDP at war with APC

    The Rivers State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has berated Governor Nyesom Wike and members of his Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) over their alleged attempts to drag the main opposition APC into their war against security agencies.

    APC in Rivers, through its Publicity Secretary, Chris Finebone, yesterday described Wike, state Chairman of PDP Chief Felix Obuah and other members of the factionalised ruling party in the state as jokers.

    Obuah had earlier alleged that 24 hours after the 15-member panel set up by the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Ibrahim Idris, to investigate the violence that erupted during the December 10 last year’s bloody legislative rerun visited Wike in Government House, Port Harcourt on Wednesday, 21 ad hoc staff of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) who took part in the elections and served in areas where candidates of the PDP won were arrested and detained at the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) in Port Harcourt.

    Obuah said the police had become a tool of witchhunt by the Federal Government and certain Rivers politicians of the APC.

    He also condemned the alleged “unholy” alliance involving security agencies, INEC and APC at the centre.

    The main opposition APC in Rivers, however, said: “Despite our determined efforts and resolve to steer clear of Wike and PDP’s war against Nigerian security agencies, the governor and his party appear very determined to drag the APC into the fray of what seems to be a war they cannot win.

    “The APC notes with shock that Rivers PDP chairman is accusing the Nigeria police of becoming the security arm of APC. This is a joke taken too far by every decent standard in politics.

    “The PDP chairman also accused the Nigeria Police of arresting 21 ad hoc staff of INEC who took part in the rerun in the state.

    “While the APC will not attempt to speak for the Nigeria police, we wish to state that the Rivers PDP chairman and his drowning supporters are simply crying wolf, and this is typical of them and therefore not surprising to many.

    “We do not see why the PDP should be too worried that ad hoc staff of INEC or indeed anybody is invited by the Nigeria Police to assist them on any issue.

    “How that becomes a source of worry for the PDP is baffling to us.

    “Could it be a confirmation of our long-held suspicion that PDP smuggled their members into the INEC ad hoc staff list in order to do their bidding? Or could the investigation of the ad hoc staff possibly lead to the unravelling of possible extent and dimensions of compromise of INEC officials by Wike and the PDP, hence the apprehension and false alarm?

    “The APC is convinced that the camp of the PDP is presently thrown into confusion because the invited ad hoc INEC staff are likely to confess and name those who compromised them over the December 10 rerun elections, and that is the reason behind the panic mode Rivers PDP and Wike have suddenly found themselves in.”

     APC also reminded the Rivers governor and his PDP that clear conscience would fear no accusation, since the truth would ultimately prevail.

    It noted that the purported arrest and transfer of INEC’s 21 ad hoc staff to Abuja by the police, even if true, should not elicit the sort of animated frenzy that had become evident of the Rivers governor and PDP in Rivers State.

    The party wondered if INEC and its staff in Rivers State had become the election administrative arm of Rivers PDP.

     The APC called on the Nigeria police and other security agencies not to be fazed by Wike’s antics and empty threats, describing them as his stock in trade, without which the state governor might never function true to type.

    Obuah, reacting to APC’s position, said he observed with grave concern the alleged persistent assaults and unwarranted actions of the police and some security agencies on members of PDP in Rivers State, the state governor and the leadership and candidates of the party before, during and after the rerun, which he claimed were carried out in sleek alliance with and on the directive of the ruling APC at the centre.

    Rivers PDP chairman said: “Even though the unholy alliance is no longer a secret to Rivers people, the APC has extended its venom on 21, so far, of the INEC ad hoc staff who served as electoral officers during the December 10, 2016 elections with arrest and detention, for not cooperating with them to rig the rerun.

    “Worried over this ugly development, the PDP had condemned such action, calling on the authorities to do the proper thing to avert total breakdown of democratic standards and process in the country and to which the APC made a reaction, the content of which, interestingly, confirmed strong collaboration between the party and the police.

    “Very sad indeed, the APC in Rivers State now acts as the official police image maker. The party (APC) is working with the police and directing them on whom to arrest.

    “But of more concern and dangerous is a situation where the Nigeria police, under the current IGP, have now inarguably become an arm of the APC. This is a real threat to the survival of the nation’s democracy and peace in our dear state.

    “Another serious cause for concern and pointer to the truth about this police-APC common understanding is the frequent visits by Rivers State APC chieftains to the IGP’s office in Abuja and persistent boast by leaders of the APC of using the powers, including the police force under their control to achieve what they want in Rivers State, as long as the Muhammadu Buhari government remains in the saddle.

    “This, to us, is unhealthy and should be checked accordingly, as we suspect the visit is, among other things, to influence the conduct of the police activities and to cause security breach in Rivers State to justify their push for the truncation of a ‘performing’ government in the state, even though they cannot achieve it.

    “The PDP members in Rivers State will continue to toe the path of peace, non-violence and civility in all of our undertakings in dealing with these matters and subsequent ones as they unfold, even as we appeal to all Rivers people and men and women of conscience to remain resolute and pray for God to touch the hearts of those who want to destroy the state for their selfish aim to desist and join in the development revolution and wind of peace that Governor Wike’s PDP government has offered in Rivers State.”

    Obuah also called on the APC members and leaders to stop dancing in the ring of illusion and face the alleged turmoil in the party, while reminding the IGP of a day of reckoning.

    When contacted on the telephone, the Spokesman of Rivers State Police Command, Nnamdi Omoni, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), declined comments on the arrest of INEC’s 21 ad hoc staff, saying that their arrest might have been effected by members of the IGP’s investigative panel from Abuja, making him ineligible to comment on it.

    It will be recalled that six  policemen were dismissed for disobeying senior police officers by preventing officials of INEC from moving the results of elections from polling units in Emohua Local Government Area of the state to the appropriate collation centre; an action that contravened the provisions of Force Order 237.

    The errant policemen, upon arriving the collation centre with Wike, had started shooting sporadically into the air without provocation, contrary to the directive of the IGP.

    The IGP also said the six policemen flouted his directive not to support politicians to rig elections, leading to their dismissal for unethical conduct and prosecution to serve as a deterrent to others.

    The police authorities also stated that the six policemen were found guilty of breaching the police conduct, despite warnings from the IGP, according to the police Spokesperson, Don Awunah, who insisted that in the case of the December 10, 2016 parliamentary elections in Rivers, Idris’ resolve to secure the process was reciprocated with the unethical conduct of some “bad eggs” within the police force.

    The affected policemen are AP/No.177893, ex. Inspr. Eyong Victor; F/No. 400872, ex. Sgt Peter Ekpo;  F/No.374585, ex. Sgt Oguni Goodluck; F/No. 385870, ex. Sgt. Orji Nwoke; F/No. 234216 ex. Sgt. Okpe Ezekiel and F/No. 437983, ex. Sgt. Tanko Akor.

  • Wike Vs Police

    In the hierarchy of state security apparatus of power, the police take preeminence.  Either as guarantee against a descent into a state of nature where it is the survival of the fittest with everyone at war with one another or for security of life and property, peace and harmony, the police beyond taking care of the deviants also serve as arbitrators between warring husband and wives, landlords and tenants and the privileged and under privileged. In recent times, they have been called upon to navigate unfamiliar terrains such as protecting the public from governors as ‘thieves in government houses’, ensuring military Generals as accomplices in the sacking of military barracks and murder of military officers by Boko Haram face the law and alleged corrupt supreme court judges as merchants of injustice, receive a dose of what they routinely administer to criminals if they are found guilty.

    Our underpaid and overstretched police force, often accommodated in decrepit decaying buildings has received little attention from an ill-equipped self-serving political class. But then our military created ‘new breed’ politicians, who’s only known political socialization took place within the military unitary system cannot give what they don’t have. It is therefore not an accident that they have not been able to properly articulate our crisis of nationhood which, more than anything else is political in the last 17 years either because of their limitations or because they are beneficiaries of a lie we live as a federation. This explains why a Senator Dino Melaye will say “his goal in politics is to ensure youths get their own share of our resources”, a Tambuwal, former Speaker of the lower house and now governor of Sokoto State will say our fundamental crisis of nationhood can be solved with the centre pumping more money to the states without any reflection about a constitution of a multi-ethnic society that makes provision for only exclusive  and concurrent list with the former overriding the later in case of conflict which means the states can go to sleep waiting for hand-outs from a parasitic centre that pretends to own everything. And for our purpose which is the abuse of the Nigerian Police by ill-equipped politicians, we can add both Ayo Fayose of Ekiti and Nyesom Wike of Rivers who either out of ignorance or deceit see the federal police only as a veneer to commit illegality. It is not an accident that governing elite that obfuscate the role of police in society cannot see those who fell in the course of duty in the Boko Haram besieged North-east, in the Fulani herdsmen ravaged Middle Belt and in the dangerous Niger Delta creeks which added DSP (Deputy Superintendent of Police) Alkali Mohammed, of Mobile Police Unit 48, and his orderly to its long list of its victims on December 10, 2016 beyond just numbers.

    According to the General Officer Commanding (GOC) the newly-created Sixth Division of the Army in Port Harcourt, Maj.-Gen. Kasimu Abdulkarim, DSP Alkali Mohammed and his orderly were beheaded by hoodlums on Saturday December 10, 2016 during Rivers rerun legislative election at Ujju community near Omoku in Ogba/Edema/Ndoni council area, where the state’s chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Felix Obuah, hails from. The incident allegedly followed a false alarm by Wike and Obuah that the army and policemen had killed three PDP members, an allegation, Maj.-Gen. Abdulkarim dismissed as “mere farce to garner sympathy”, or a “design aimed at tarnishing the army’s image”.

    As it turned out, devious governing elite that have not deemed it fit to celebrate any of our past fallen police officers are not now in a hurry to secure justice for those “killed because they answered the call of duty to serve in an election”. The arrest of five suspects- Noble Nwaerema, Dike Deinpiribo, Valentine Alalibo, Onwunari J. Warmate, and Iloke Stephen and the decision of the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to set up a high powered investigation team, we now know are not enough guarantee these fallen police officers will ever get justice in the circumstances where Governor Nyesom Wike has already queried the position of IGP Ibrahim Idris and the army. He recently asked with an undisguised malice, ”The army announced that they recovered the uniforms from the forest; was there a polling unit in the forest?” Other questions followed in quick succession. “What is the polling unit where he was killed? “Where is the call log of a former commissioner who was alleged to have communicated with the killers? For Wike, the recovery of the headless body of the officer and the arrest of his suspected killers count for very little.

    And this was as the police top hierarchy insisted Wike deployed the services of the officers attached to him for illegal activities. According to statement signed by Force Public Relations Officer, Don N. Awunah, “police officers in the convoy of Rivers State governor, Mr. Nyesom Wike, on the day of the election misused the firearms in their possession contrary to the provisions of Force Order 237”. The statement added “The service personnel became overzealous, took laws into their hands and opened fire, causing panic in the crowd. They joined in storming the Port Harcourt City Council Secretariat and prevented the movement of election results of Mocha polling unit to the appropriate collation centre designated by INEC, in flagrant disregard and disobedience to senior Police officers present at the venue.”

    However, following the dismissal of the affected police officers by the police authorities, Wike insisted “The dismissed officers committed no crime other than foil a carefully-orchestrated electoral heist by officials of INEC in collusion with the APC and the Nigeria Police Force.” For him “The claim by the police that the affected officers misused their firearms while in the convoy of Governor Wake on December 10, 2016 is a wrong and cruel fabrication.” But he has not denied he had the police officers with him when by his own admission, “Two days after the elections, on December 12, 2016, he led thousands of Rivers people, to resist “an invasion by the police on the premises of the Port Harcourt City Local Government Council, in a brazen attempt to rig the elections in favor of the APC”.

    First, how can Wike who was not the one that issued out arms to the police officers dispute the claim by those who issued out the arms that the arms were misused? Then what is the motive of a governor who opted to deploy the police apparatus meant his protection to confront other senior police officers legally deployed to protect INEC office? One can hazard a guess as to the motive if it is recalled that not too long ago, Governor Wike protected by the police, allegedly in company of thugs, drove from the Government House to physically prevent a judge accused of corruption from being arrested in the middle of the night.

    And for Wike’s PDP, “The hurried dismissal” of the police men is another valid pointer to the pre-election rigging plans and the assassination attempt on Governor Wike”. The proof according to the Prince Dayo Adeyeye, the party spokesman: “NPC withdrawal of over 70 percent of its personnel deployed to Rivers State Government House and the Chief Security Officer (CSO) to the Governor a few days to the election.”

    It is on record that INEC had long before the election, condemned in very strong terms “the relentless false allegations, provocative and dangerous comments being made by Wike, all of which are capable of inciting people to commit violent acts” Maj.-Gen. Kasimu Abdulkarim put it differently “when you have people in leadership who do not take the responsibility of being a leader, this is what happens and they are issues that constitute threat to ordinary Nigerians.”

  • Rivers will not participate in probe panel on rerun poll – Wike

    Rivers State Governor, Nyesom  Wike, has said the people of the state will not participate in the Nigerian Police Special Joint Investigation Panel on Rivers rerun election.

    Wike also announced that his government has challenged the setting up of the panel in court with the Chairman of the panel, DCP Damian Okoro, as one of the defendants.

    He insisted that people of the state will not participate in the activities of the panel.

    The governor said the panel was set up by the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, with a predetermined goal of assisting the All Progressives Congress (APC) at the election tribunal.

    Speaking in Government House, Port Harcourt, on Wednesday when members of the investigation panel visited him, the governor said it was regrettable that the Nigerian police is being used to protect the interest of a particular politician in the state.

    He also said the panel is biased with an agenda targeted at his party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its members, while shielding policemen allegedly used by the APC to commit electoral fraud.

     

     

  • Peterside : Wike’s actions embarrasing to Rivers

    Peterside : Wike’s actions embarrasing to Rivers

    One of the leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State, Dr. Dakuku Peterside, believes that Governor Nyesom Wike’s actions are embarrassing the people.
    Peterside spoke yesterday while commenting on last Friday’s dismissal by police authorities of six policemen attached to Wike for professional misconduct during the December 10 last year’s legislative rerun.
    The APC governorship candidate, noted that the actions of the Rivers governor, especially for insisting that the dismissed policemen were innocent and abusing the Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, were giving the state a bad name and rubbishing the achievements of its founding fathers.
    He expressed deep reservations over the unbecoming attitude of Wike, who he insisted had serially compromised security in Rivers state and had allegedly been involved in many electoral malpractices.
    The APC chieftain said: “What manner of a man is Wike? His desperation to become governor at all costs, led to loss of many lives and destruction of property. Since becoming governor, it has been bad news all the way. Many people, including security personnel, have been murdered in different parts of the state. Now, policemen have been dismissed from service, all because of the inordinate ambition of one man.
    “How can the governor of a state force his way into INEC’s collation centre and under heavy intimidation, harassment and threat to life,
    force the returning officer to declare a winner, when the results of Emohua and Etche LGAs had not been collated?
    “Wike clearly had no business storming the collation centre with policemen and his thugs. He took his immunity to a ridiculous level, thus endangering the lives of people and career of the security personnel.
    “Here is a governor who cries at every given opportunity, yet he is the one compromising every known government institution to serve his selfish ambition.”

  • Rivers PDP chairman condemns dismissal of six policemen attached to Wike

    Rivers PDP chairman condemns dismissal of six policemen attached to Wike

    The Rivers State Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Felix Obuah, has condemned Friday’s dismissal of six policemen attached to Governor Nyesom Wike, describing it as the height of injustice.

    He noted that the humiliation of the six “innocent” policemen, which was beamed on national television,  showed  the police authorities allegedly acted the script of leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who he claimed were not favoured by the outcome of the just-concluded December 10 legislative rerun.

    Obuah berated the police authorities for allowing themselves to be used in the show of shame.

    He accused the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Ibrahim Idris, for insulting the sensibilities of Nigerians, on his remark that the dismissed policemen engaged in professional misconduct, insisting that the dismissed policemen were statutorily mandated to protect Wike, who is the chief security officer of the state.

    Rivers PDP chairman challenged the IGP to explain to Nigerians the status of the legion of policemen of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) and soldiers who accompanied APC leaders, especially Rotimi Amaechi, Dr. Dakuku Peterside, Magnus Abe, Barry Mpigi, Derrick Mene and others, including Akin Fakorede and other policemen caught on video at collation centres.

    He stated that the IGP’s statement in justifying his sack of the six policemen did not stand the test of reason, wondering why those policemen, soldiers and SARS personnel who allegedly accompanied APC leaders to the same Port Harcourt City Local Government Council secretariat had not been sacked and tried for professional misconduct.

    Obuah lamented that the allegedly reckless actions by the police authorities was the product of the politics of desperation, as institutionalised by the APC, warning that the spate of brigandage against Nigerians could plunge the country into chaos and ruin the renascent democracy, if not checked.

    The six policemen were dismissed for alleged unethical conduct during the December 10 last year’s controversial and bloody legislative rerun in Rivers state.

    The IGP stated that the six errant policemen flouted his directive not to support politicians to rig elections.

    The affected policemen are AP/No.177893, ex. Inspr. Eyong Victor; F/No. 400872, ex. Sgt Peter Ekpo;  F/No.374585, ex. Sgt Oguni Goodluck; F/No. 385870, ex. Sgt. Orji Nwoke; F/No. 234216 ex. Sgt. Okpe Ezekiel and F/No. 437983, ex. Sgt. Tanko Akor.

    The police authorities stated that the six policemen were found guilty of breaching the police conduct, despite warnings from the IGP, according to the police spokesperson, Dan Awunah, who insisted that in the case of the recent parliamentary elections in Rivers, Idris’ resolve to secure the process was reciprocated with the unethical conduct of some “bad eggs” within the police force.